VACANCIES

Exciting Opportunities

This is an exciting time for the Society of Genealogists. With membership income rising and funds available for development, it now seeks to shape its future through a new strategic plan.

Core to that plan is the Society’s desire to continue to play a central role in the development of genealogy in the UK, for professionals and amateurs alike.

The Society is always interested in hearing from individuals who would like to join as trustees. All we ask of trustees is that they bring their knowledge and passion to the challenge. In return, we can offer an opportunity to help shape the future of the Society.

Whether you are just starting out on your family tree or have many years of experience in this field, we would love to hear from you.

Respondents should email: Recruitment@sog.org.uk.


Background


The Society of Genealogists (“the Society”) is an educational charity founded in 1911 and is custodian of an extensive and exciting collection of diverse historical and modern, physical and digital records. The Society’s staff and volunteers include experienced and knowledgeable genealogy professionals, with remarkable knowledge and experience of genealogy.

Current Vacancies


Chair of the Trustees | Trustee | Membership and Communications Manager

VACANCY

Chair of the Trustees

The Chair of the Trustees may serve a maximum of three terms of two years before being required to step down. Following the successful tenure of the present Chair, the Society is seeking to recruit the next Chair commencing from the AGM in July 2025, to continue to lead the Society in its continuing ambition to deliver a rewarding research and membership experience to all of its members in the UK and internationally; ensuring it continues to be a thriving organisation through the next stage of transformation and explores opportunities for growth.

We welcome applications from anyone regardless of disability, ethnicity, heritage, gender, sexuality, religion or socio-economic background.

This role will best suit a candidate who resides in the UK.

Please note that this role is voluntary and unpaid.



Job Description

Role: Chair

Term of Office: up to 6 years, with renewals every 2 years.

Purpose: To chair the Board of Trustees of the Society of Genealogists, ensuring that the charity runs legally and is provided with firm strategic direction.


Responsibilities (specific to the role of chair):
  • To represent the Society and act as its spokesperson at external and internal functions, meetings, conferences, exhibitions.
  • To lead the Board of Trustees in setting and monitoring implementation of the Society’s Strategy.
  • To monitor the performance of the Chief Executive Officer (“CEO”), including a formal annual review against objectives.
  • To oversee, or directly manage, the selection of new trustees from time to time to maintain sufficient trustees with the appropriate mix of skills.
  • To plan, in consultation with the CEO, the annual cycle and set agendas for the Board of Trustees meetings, the AGM and any extraordinary meetings.
  • To chair and facilitate meetings of the Board of Trustees and associated special meetings/committees.
  • To provide support and delegate assignments as necessary to the Vice Chair of the Board of Trustees.
  • To provide direction, support and impartial objective advice to the Board, individual Trustees and the Society as a whole covering: policymaking, liaison with honorary officers and with chairs of other committees.
  • To liaise with the CEO in order to maintain an overview of the affairs of the Society, and to provide support as appropriate.
  • To participate in personnel management grievance and disciplinary matters as defined by the personnel policies of the Society.
  • To support and contribute to the development of the Board of Trustees, facilitating succession planning, change and conflict resolution.

Essential Skills/Qualities:
  • Knowledge and experience of the voluntary and community sector, understanding and acceptance of the legal duties, responsibilities and liabilities of trusteeship.
  • To work at all times with integrity, objectivity and honesty.
  • Awareness of the commercial realities of a not for profit organisation and ability to balance the variety of requests from membership while ensuring financial stability.
  • Proven leader with insight, independent judgement, and ability to think creatively in order to drive the development and realisation of the Society’s strategic vision.
  • Experience in a board or senior executive role, leading teams and chairing efficient decision making fora; through effective communication and interpersonal skills including impartiality, fairness, good listening skills, a willingness to speak out where necessary with tact and diplomacy, and an ability to respect confidences and confidentiality.
  • Willingness to devote the necessary time and effort to the Society.

Desirable Skills/Qualities
  • Understanding of the genealogy sector/market and the Society’s respective position therein.
  • Experience in overseeing IT/digital projects and / or multifaceted change programmes.
  • Experience in analysis of competitive position.
  • Familiarity with and experience of reviewing financial accounts, budgeting and financial controls.
  • Demonstrable ability to develop a strong public profile amongst SOG members and in the genealogy community and to provide a strong contribution to fundraising from donations, grant and legacy-giving.

General Responsibilities (with all Trustees):
  • To ensure that the Society complies with its governing document (including pursuing its objects as defined therein), charity law, company law, and any other relevant legislation or regulations.
  • To ensure that the resources of the Society are applied exclusively in pursuance of its objects.
  • To contribute actively to the Board of Trustees in giving firm strategic direction to the Society, including setting overall policy, defining goals and evaluating performance against agreed targets and implementation of decisions made by the Board of Trustees.
  • To safeguard the reputation and values of the Society.
  • To ensure the effective and efficient administration of the Society.
  • To ensure the Society has financial stability and aims to deliver profits to reinvest in its services.
  • To protect and manage the property of the Society and the proper investment of its funds.

Respondents should email a CV and covering letter to: Recruitment@sog.org.uk by 19 March.

VACANCY

Trustee

The Board of Trustees is responsible for the proper governance of the Society and meets four/five times a year. Trustees may sit for up to two three-year terms.

 The Society is continually looking for new Trustees with different professional skills, experience and backgrounds to help the Society in its ongoing ambition to deliver a rewarding research and membership experience to all of its members in the UK and internationally; ensuring it continues to be a thriving organisation through the next stage of transformation and explores opportunities for growth.

Examples of skills and experience that the Society looks for are:

We welcome applications from anyone regardless of disability, ethnicity, heritage, gender, sexuality, religion or socio-economic background. Non-UK residents are welcome to apply.

Please note that this role is voluntary and unpaid.


Job Description

Role: Trustee

Term of Office: up to 6 years, with renewals every 3 years.

Purpose: To sit on the Board of Trustees of the Society of Genealogists, ensuring that the charity runs legally and is provided with firm strategic direction.

General Responsibilities:
  • To ensure that the Society complies with its governing document (including pursuing its objects as defined therein), charity law, company law, and any other relevant legislation or regulations.
  • To ensure that the resources of the Society are applied exclusively in pursuance of its objects.
  • To contribute actively to the Board of Trustees in giving firm strategic direction to the Society, including setting overall policy, defining goals and evaluating performance against agreed targets and implementation of decisions made by the Board of Trustees.
  • To safeguard the reputation and values of the Society.
  • To ensure the effective and efficient administration of the Society.
  • To ensure the Society has financial stability and aims to deliver profits to reinvest in its services.
  • To protect and manage the property of the Society and the proper investment of its funds.

Essential Skills/Qualities:
  • Demonstrable expertise and experience in one or more of the skills listed in the box above
  • Understanding of working in accordance with Nolan’s seven principles of public life: selflessness, integrity, objectivity, accountability, openness, honesty and leadership.
  • Experience in a board or senior executive role.
  • Effective communication and interpersonal skills including impartiality, fairness, good listening skills, a willingness to speak out where necessary with tact and diplomacy, and an ability to respect confidences and confidentiality.
  • Willingness to devote the necessary time and effort to the Society.

Desirable Skills/Qualities:
  • Understanding of the genealogy sector/market and the Society’s respective position therein.
  • Knowledge and experience of the voluntary and community sector, understanding and acceptance of the legal duties, responsibilities and liabilities of trusteeship.
  • Awareness of the commercial realities of a not-for-profit organisation

 

We are happy to accept applications (or expressions of interest) at any time and will review applications on a quarterly basis depending upon vacancies on the Board at that time. Please email: Recruitment@sog.org.uk.

VACANCY

Membership and Communications Manager

N1, London (Hybrid) | £40,000 to £45,000, depending on experience | Full-time | Contract (Minimum 6 months) | Actively Interviewing | Maternity Leave Cover


Job description


Are you a creative problem solver looking for a new challenge in a varied role with the opportunity to develop your skills? Do you want to be a crucial part of implementing an exciting new membership strategy?

If so, you may be the person we’re looking for.

With membership income rising and funds available for development, it’s an exciting time for the Society of Genealogists (SoG).

We’re looking for a Membership and Communications Manager to join our team as we seek to shape our future through the implementation of a new strategic plan.

Who we are:


The Society of Genealogists is an educational charity founded in 1911. The Society is the custodian of an extensive and exciting collection of diverse historical and modern, physical, and digital records, including grassroots sources, rich data of unlikely origin, and exceptional assets that capture the unfolding, unofficial history of us all.

We provide a well-regarded programme of education and training, supporting people not only to research their family roots but also to understand what they’ve found.

In 2024, SoG successfully launched a new Gold membership tier, introducing a video library and building upon the success of its online educational events programme. We’re now ready to take the next steps in rolling out our 5 year strategic membership strategy.


Purpose:


You will be a key part of the SoG team, supporting the charity through an exciting period of change. We are looking for an innovative, self-starter who can hit the ground running and make a big impact in our small team. You’ll be a key part of our team as we update our membership systems and develop our communications strategy.


Benefits:


  • Twenty-five days of annual leave as well as Bank Holidays.
  • Access to member benefits of the Society of Genealogists
  • Pension scheme

 

Start Date: Monday, 28th April

Location: Hybrid. (Working at least two days a week at our Research Hub, Wharf Road, London, N1 7GS between Tuesday and Friday.)

Contract: 35 hours per week. Minimum six-month fixed-term contract.

Reporting to: Head of Change and Communications


Key accountabilities:


Membership

  • Support Head of Change with the launch and onboarding of new membership systems
  • Produce and manage membership processes and procedures, including robust renewal processes
  • Oversee day-to-day delivery of member services, including customer service communications
  • Manage and report on membership data, create and update forecasts
  • Track and report on membership income and expenditure
  • Manage third-party membership suppliers
  • Manage membership administrator/s
  • Support AGM coordination and voting procedures

Communications

  • Work in conjunction with the Head of Communications to develop and deliver:
  • Manage content structure and publication schedule for website in line with Communication Strategy
  • Create and manage membership communication plans, including membership onboarding, engagement and renewal
  • Manage and coordinate communication schedule across multiple customer-facing areas of the Charity
  • Create and manage automated communication sequences within a CRM and within MailChimp
  • Liaise with Social Media Manger to oversee content repurposing in line with the Communication Strategy.

Person Specification


Essential

  • Experience in membership roles for membership organisations or associations
  • Experience of creating and documenting membership processes and procedures (e.g. onboarding, renewal, cancellation)
  • Experience of creating membership communications
  • Excellent IT skills and experience of a range of different membership platforms
  • Adept at using CRMs to monitor, evaluate and provide insights on membership engagement
  • Excellent written and verbal communications skills
  • Outstanding customer service skills
  • Good working knowledge of GDPR
  • Ability to prioritise workloads across several different areas and manage conflicting demands and deadlines
  • Experience of working in a team environment with excellent interpersonal skills

Desirable

  • Experience of working in the Charity sector
  • Experience of setting and managing budgets
  • Experience of managing content within a CMS (e.g. WordPress)
  • Interest in genealogy or social history

 

Applications closing date: Monday, 24th February

First round online interviews: w/c 3rd March

Second round in-person interviews: Tuesday 18th March or Tuesday 25th March

Start date: Monday, 28th April 2025


Application Instructions


Please provide your CV along with a cover letter outlining why your experience is suited to the role based on our Essential and Desirable experience outlined above. Please give an example of each one where possible. Please also include the names of any CRMs and CMSs you have used in the past.

 

Posted on: 12 February 2025

Closing date: 24 February 2025 at 11:16

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We all have roots. Let’s find them together.